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Rishi Sunak has revealed the likely timeframe of the 2024 general election – saying he expects to hold it in the second half of the year, after coming under pressure to call a vote soon.
The PM said on Thursday it is his “working assumption” that he would not be sending the public to the polls in the spring, as the opposition has been talking up.
Labour had claimed that a spring vote is the “worst kept secret in parliament”, in a ploy to claim Mr Sunak has bottled it if he waits any longer.
The Liberal Democrats have also been calling for Mr Sunak to hold the vote in May rather than trying to “cling on” to power for the rest of the year.
But Mr Sunak told broadcasters: “So my working assumption is we’ll have a general election in the second half of this year and in the meantime I’ve got lots that I want to get on with.”
The Conservative leader declined to rule out a May election categorically, but repeated his intentions to go for later in the year.
Speaking on a visit to a youth centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, Mr Sunak also dangled the prospect of future tax cuts to voters and attacked Sir Keir Starmer’s green proposals, as the two leaders set out their stalls at the start of the election year.
Rishi Sunak reveals general election plan during visit to the East Midlands
(PA)
“I want to keep going, managing the economy well and cutting people’s taxes. “But I also want to keep tackling illegal migration,” Mr Sunak said.
“So I’ve got lots to get on with and I’m determined to keep delivering for the British people.”
More follows on this breaking news story….